Hollywood United Hitmen Press Release – www.hollywoodutd.com

Saturday, June 27, 2009

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA – Seven goals, a confident and creative performance, and three points propelled the Hollywood United Hitmen back to the top of the PDL Southwest Division standings here tonight at Palisades High School as the Hitmen powered past the visiting Ogden Outlaw with a 7-3 victory.

Debutant head coach Matt Harold made a perfect start to his tenure at the helm of the Hitmen, sending out an attack-minded team which saw Jaime Chaves and Willie Sims leading a strong and potent offense offence. Coach Harold made a couple of changes at the back, giving imposing Croatian defender Peter Hazdovac his first Hitmen start in place of the injured Nick Blanco, while Erik Robert and Armando Ochoa dropped to the bench, and were replaced in the starting eleven by Earl Alexander and the recovered Federico Bianchi.

Having had a two-week break since their last game, the Hitmen looked enthusiastic and motivated, and exploded out of the blocks, attacking Ogden forcefully from the word go. Conversely Ogden, who had lost 4-3 in Lancaster the night before, looked tired, and a step or two off the pace.

Hollywood were ahead within 10 minutes, when Spaniard Jose Munoz twisted and turned and broke free down the left wing and sent a low cross into the Ogden area; Outlaws keeper Jeff Rogers, who was busy all night, could only push the ball into the path of Jaime Chavez, who prodded the ball home from six yards to score his eighth goal of the season.

It was 2-0 three minutes later, with a virtual carbon copy of the first goal: Earl Alexander danced around Ogden’s Ethan Summers, nutmegged midfielder Cavel Palmer, cut inside, and sent a cross into a crowded penalty area which fell perfectly for Chavez, who volleyed into the top corner for his second of the game.

Hollywood absolutely dominated the game, with Alexander, Corona, Bianchi and Munoz terrorizing the right side of Ogden’s defense, tying Outlaws Summers and Mike Hickman in knots with tricks and flicks, quick 1-2 passing, and plenty of strength of the ball. Target men Willie Sims and Jaime Chavez were consistently threatening, with Sims embarking on half a dozen mazy runs which seemed to have the men from Utah mesmerized. Ogden ‘keeper Rogers made save after save, denying the Hitmen on eight occasions, keeping shots from Munoz, Bianchi and Sims away.

Hollywood conceded an unlucky penalty kick five minutes before half time when Andy Cornia’s shot cannoned off Nick Kohlschreiber’s hand; Ogden striker Sam Charles duly converted the spot kick, and the half ended with Hollywood ahead 2-1, but such was the Hollywood dominance the question the Hitmen were asking themselves as they left the field was not if they would score again, but how many.

The answer was five. The first one came within 90 seconds of the re-start when, after a brief game of ping pong in the Ogden six yard box, Willie Sims buried a shot from close range to make it 3-1. Ten minutes later Hollywood scored their fourth of the night when the impressive Earl Alexander unleashed another emphatic shot from inside the box which Outlaws keeper Rogers could not reach. Four minutes later again, substitute Diego Barrera wriggled his way through the Ogden defense and belted a low drive past Rogers to make it 5-1; it was virtually his first touch of the game, and it was quickly becoming a rout.

Hollywood gave away their second penalty of the night on 64 minutes when the impressive Hazdovac, a rock at the back, bumped Andy Cornia in his own box and the referee pointed to the spot again; up stepped Charles, who scored his second PK of the game.

Hollywood, however, were eager to capitalize on their goal scoring prowess, and sensing that goal difference may become a factor in the final standings, pressed on for more goals. They scored number 6 on 79 minutes when substitute Fergie Agwu went on a powerful run through Ogden midfield, passed to Ochoa, who passed to Barrera, who laid a perfect square ball back to Agwu, who had continued his run. Agwu’s shot cannoned off Ogden defender Taylor Bowlin and looped up and over the unlucky Rogers.

But *still* the scoring wasn’t done. Ogden midfielder Adrian Saldana dispossessed Agwu in the middle of the field and laid a perfectly weighted ball through the Hollywood back line for Sam Charles , who sprinted clear and finished past Miranda. It’s not often a player scores a hat trick and ends up on the losing side, but that’s what happened to the unfortunate Charles.

Then, to cap off a memorable night for the Hitmen, debutant striker Estuardo Sanchez – a former member of the Chivas USA U-19 squad – was fouled in the Ogden area and, despite the game being deep into injury time, the referee pointed to the spot for the third time. After a brief and heated discussion between Sanchez, Morales and Barrera – all of whom wanted to take the kick – eventually Sanchez stepped up and finished confidently, making the score an emphatic 7-3 to the Hitmen.

It was like watching a completely different team from the team which tied Los Angeles and Bakersfield in their previous two games – clearly illustrating what a rest break can do for a team. Hollywood’s confidence on the ball, the fluidity of their movement, the precision of their passing, and their threat in front of goal was at times a delight to behold, and bodes well for the last few games of the season.

The result leaves the Hitmen back at the top of the PDL Southwest Division standings, clear of Ventura and Los Angeles, and with a healthier goal difference to boot.

The Hitmen return to action next Wednesday, July 1st, when they take on the Southern California Seahorses in their final home game of the season, again at Pacific Palisades High School. Kickoff for that game is 7:00pm.

Hollywood lineup: Jose Miranda; Carlos Morales, Peter Hazdovac, Amir Shafii, Nick Kohlschreiber (Erik Robert); Jose Munoz (Fergie Agwu), Rene Corona, Federico Bianchi (Diego Barrera), Earl Alexander (Bryan Hernandez); Willie Sims (Armando Ochoa), Jaime Chavez (Estuardo Sanchez)

Ogden lineup: Jeff Rogers; Mike Hickman, Ethan Summers (Tyler Bowlin), Kody King (Adrian Saldana), Max Malmquist (Mike Foss); James Jaramillo (Joseph Hickman), Santiago Castano, Cavel Palmer, Sung Hyun Kim (Kenan Powell); Sam Charles, Andrew Cornia